After a four-game losing skid, Pittsburgh (16-10, 7-8 ACC) has won its last two games at home against Miami and Syracuse. However, neither game was easy, with the Panthers trailing big early on in both games. They now go on the road to take on Notre Dame (11-15, 5-10), a team coming off a blowout loss to SMU earlier in the week and have lost five of its last six games.
But the Panthers are the last team that should overlook an opponent. To keep their spot on the bubble, they must get this road victory. Here are three keys to them winning.
1. Slow down Markus Burton
Notre Dame had a trio of guys averaging 14+ ppg, but Burton is the star of the group, leading the team with 20.3 ppg on 45% shooting from the field and 38% from three-point range. He has 15+ points in all but two games this season, including 32 in OT against BC. Coming off a two-point game against SMU, look for Burton to go for a bounce-back effort. Even if he scores well, Pitt making it an inefficient effort is important.
2. Good game from Cameron Corhen and GDG
Notre Dame’s strength is in its backcourt, including Burton, Braden Shrewsberry and forward Tar Davis. 6’10 big man Kebba Njie and backup Nikita Konstantynovskyi makes up the five-spot, giving Pitt an advantage inside. But Corhen has been inconsistent as of late, with a pair of 17-point games and just four points in the last game against Syracuse. Guillermo Diaz-Graham is coming off a strong performance himself and should get plenty of minutes again. If they can combine for 20+ points, the Panthers can offset whatever the perimeter players do.
3. 10+ points from Zack Austin
With Damian Dunn (elbow) out, Austin has taken a primary role, playing 35+ mpg. He’s coming off a 19-point game against Syracuse and had 11 versus Miami. But in the four prior games, the senior forward was in single digits, all being losses. The Panthers are reliant on Austin and his double-digit scoring going forward and it mainly comes from the three-point line. If he can make some perimeter shots on the road, that’ll go a long way in the team getting the win.